Billy Idol

Livestream Preview: Stone Love Bass Odyssey with John Taylor of Duran Duran @ Instagram, 6/10/20

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John Taylor performs with Duran Duran at MGM National Harbor on Dec. 31, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Pandemic lockdowns globally generated a surge of creativity from music artists seeking ways to connect with their fans in a time when people are urged to stay at home.

Of all the virtual concerts, listening parties, and chats, my favorite lockdown series by far has been a tutorial and interview combo by John Taylor of Duran Duran. On nearly a weekly cadence, John regales the viewer with tales of a favorite song and how it came together, with a focus on his bass playing, and then he interviews a friend and fellow artist in a program dubbed Stone Love Bass Odyssey.

On Wednesday, June 10, John walks us through “Some Like It Hot” by his side project Power Station, and then he chats with none other than fellow English rocker Billy Idol, on Duran Duran’s Instagram!

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Live Review: Billy Idol @ Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort — 3/13/20

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Billy Idol performs at the Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort on March 13, 2020. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Billy Idol’s dad was a helluva salesman. He worked hard all of his life, and he never really seemed to have time for Billy’s music as his son shot up the charts in the early ’80s.

In 2014, Billy was working on Kings & Queens of the Underground, his eighth studio album, and he took a mix over to his parents to get their feedback. To Billy’s delight, his dad was not only very interested in the album, but he liked the songs quite well.

Soon after, Billy’s dad passed away at the age of 90. In his bed at the time, he was listening to Billy’s “Ghosts in My Guitar,” a song that Billy performed with considerable emotion at the Pearl Theatre at Palms Resort Casino recently.

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Vital Idol: Billy Idol @ Lincoln Theatre — 4/1/19

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Billy Idol performs at the Lincoln Theatre on April 1, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)

In the mid-‘70s, young William Michael Albert Broad started life as a musician in his punk band Generation X. As a fan of the Sex Pistols, he famously hung out with a group of punks called the Bromley Contingent.

As Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp once said, the Sex Pistols were made to fade away. By contrast, the man who would become Billy Idol was built to last.

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Don’t Miss: Sweetlife Festival @ Merriweather Post Pavilion, 5/30-5/31/15

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Kendrick Lamar performs at the Sweetlife Festival in 2013 (Photo courtesy Sweetgreen)

The Sweetlife Festival will expand to two days for the first time in its six-year history on May 30-31, announced organizers Sweetgreen Tuesday.

Sweetgreen, a DC-based chain of salad restaurants, will host the Sweetlife Festival again at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., with an expanded lineup across two stages.

Performers this year include Kendrick Lamar, Calvin Harris, The Weeknd, Pixies, Charli XCX, Billy Idol, Phantogram, Marina & The Diamonds, San Fermin and others. The festival also promised a “handful of local DC-area artists.”

Tickets go on sale to the public at 10am on Friday, March 6, through Ticketfly. But presales are available for those who use the Sweetgreen rewards app on Wednesday, March 4, and those who follow the salad company on Instagram on Thursday, March 5.

The festival also offers “the best in food and experiences,” according to the organizers with art installations, play areas, and partner chefs like Erik Bruner-Yang, José Andrés and Nick Wiseman. Sweetgreen will publish full details on the food and experience offerings later this spring.

The Sweetlife Festival is produced in partnership with I.M.P., which books concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion and the 9:30 Club, of course. For more information on the festival, visit, http://www.sweetlifefestival.com.

Tickets will be available online or at the box office of the 9:30 Club.

Sweetlife Festival
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, Md.
Saturday, May 30-Sunday, May 31
Show @12pm both days
$175 (General)-$350 (VIP)
All ages

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